Hartford Athletic has named legendary UConn Soccer Coach Ray Reid as the club’s Technical Director. Reid, a four time National Soccer Coaches Association of America “National Coach of the Year” winner, will oversee all aspects of the first team including personnel decisions, selection of coaches and technical staff, player identification and scouting, as well as oversight of the Hartford Athletic Academy.
“Over the past few months, I’ve really missed the locker room and the camaraderie of being part of a team. I’m honored and excited to join Hartford Athletic,” Reid said. “I’d like to thank Bruce Mandell, Coach Watling and the entire organization for welcoming me to the club. I am humbled by the opportunity they’ve presented to me, to help grow the professional soccer team in the state I love. I would not have accepted this position if not for Bruce and Coach Watling’s flexibility and understanding of my needs to be able to assist my parents at times with anything that may arise from their aging issues. ”
“I’ve been very fortunate to work at two outstanding Universities in UConn and Southern Connecticut State University. They will always hold a special place in my heart,” Reid added. “My goal now is to help Hartford Athletic be a team that the entire state of Connecticut gets behind.”
The 61-year-old Reid retired in December of 2021. Reid coached for 33 seasons, 25 of them with the Huskies, and amassed a career head coaching record of 457-149-78, which is the second-highest total in history among coaches at four-year institutions who have coached a minimum of five years in Division I. 312 of those wins came with the Huskies, as did eight regular season titles, four Big East Tournament championships, and a National Championship in 2000. He was inducted into the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame in 2003.
Before UConn, Reid led his alma mater Southern Connecticut State University to three national championships in eight years at the helm. UConn has produced forty-one MLS draft picks including fourteen first-round picks and three No. 1 overall picks under Reid’s tenure, including Jamaican National Team Goalkeeper Andre Blake and Canadian International Cyle Larin.
“Ray Reid is a Connecticut soccer icon and we are thrilled to be adding him as our Technical Director,” said Hartford Athletic Chairman Bruce Mandell. “He has a proven record of success both on and off the pitch and his experience will perfectly complement Coach Watling and the rest of our technical staff as well as provide unique opportunities for our organization as a whole.”
Reid has one of the broadest coaching trees in all of soccer, having developed over nineteen coaches at the Division I and professional levels. Presently, nine sitting Division I Head Coaches have coached on Ray’s staff, eight of whom formerly played for him. He also is a founding board member of the Clive Charles Initiative which is a platform designed and engineered to increase coaching opportunities at all levels for underrepresented and minority coaches within college soccer and the professional game.
“Ray is one of the most influential people in soccer in Connecticut and his experience and knowledge of the American soccer system are welcome additions to our organization,” said Hartford Athletic Head Coach Harry Watling. “I’m very pleased that he has decided to come on board and look forward to working with him.”
Hartford Athletic will be back in action on Saturday, May 14th, when they host New York Red Bulls II at Trinity Health Stadium at 7 PM. Fans interested in purchasing tickets for the match should visit hartfordathletic.com/single.
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Hartford Athletic is Connecticut’s professional soccer team competing in the United Soccer League. Our mission is to provide a world-class professional soccer experience and build community through the beautiful game.
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